Everything You Need to Know About Raft Foundation

Types, Advantages, and Disadvantages of Raft Foundation

A strong foundation supports the entire building structure. It ensures that buildings are not subject to ground settlement and remain stable during earthquakes. Places with low load-bearing capacity are challenging for building stability. A raft foundation can help stabilise building structures. Different types of rest foundations are used in various soil conditions. The following discussion will focus on other types of raft foundations and their advantages and disadvantages.

What is a Raft Foundation?

The raft foundation is made with concrete and reinforced steel rods. A thick reinforced concrete slab spread on a wide area supports the building structure. In some cases, reinforced concrete columns support the raft foundation and distribute the superstructure load into a wide area to make it more stable. As a result of the equal load distribution of the building, it remains in good condition, even in weak soils. You can use reinforced concrete raft foundations to construct high-rise buildings, even in weak soil conditions. Raft foundations that use piles to support it better are called piled raft foundations.

How Does a Raft Foundation Work?

A piled raft foundation may be the best solution if you are constructing a building in a weak soil condition or with loose soil particles. Deep reinforced piles are inserted into the ground across the foundation upon which a thick reinforced raft is built. So, when you make a high-rise building on it, its load is distributed evenly across the area and carried deep into the soil to a stronger soil layer. On the contrary, building weight is spread across the soil's surface in a strip or pad foundation. It is more advantageous for areas with strong soil quality.

Types of Raft Foundations

Different types of rest foundations are available for construction projects. It depends on the soil quality, the load of the building structure, and the project requirements.

Solid Slab Raft

It is a solid reinforced concrete slab that is spread across the foundation of a building. This type of foundation is usually used on a strong soil type that can carry the building load efficiently. Besides, it is useful for carrying lightweight loads of buildings. A solid slab raft is a perfect solution if you plan to construct a building on a solid layer of soil.

Wide Toe Raft

It is a reinforced concrete foundation in which extended reinforced concrete toes carry the external load of the structure. It is primarily used in ground conditions where the compressibility is unequal in all places. Besides, it is an economical solution to reinforced concrete foundations. You don't require a thick reinforced foundation; the extended reinforced toes carry the building load.

Cellular Raft

This type of foundation is used in areas where extensive mining has been done or where ground settlement risk is higher. In a cellular reaction, foundation beams are placed between two concrete slabs, with the middle portion of the slabs remaining empty. Cellular raft foundations are rigid and suitable for ground conditions with loose soil.

Mat Foundation

This type of foundation uses large rectangular concrete slabs. The superstructure load is distributed on rectangular slabs across a small surface area. In large industrial buildings, a mat foundation helps distribute the load across the surface area. Besides, a mat foundation is suitable if the soil has low bearing capacity.

Advantages of Raft Foundations

Are you looking for an economical but reliable concrete foundation solution? Piled raft foundation could be your one-in-all answer. You don't need to dig too deep and install reinforced concrete piles to construct piled raft foundations. So, it becomes an economical and time-efficient solution for your building.

Disadvantages of Raft Foundations

However, if you plan to construct a large multi-story building, a piled raft foundation may not be the perfect choice. This foundation may crack if your site engineer does not correctly calculate its load-bearing capacity. Besides, the foundation might be damaged upon getting waterlogged for a long time.

When to Use Raft Foundations

Piled raft foundations can be used in weak or lost soils to handle upward or downward bending force on concrete foundations. Precast concrete blocks or beams are often used for piled raft foundations, which can be a budget-friendly solution.

Conclusion

In conclusion, piled raft foundations are a budget-friendly solution for constructing a sustainable building foundation in low-load-bearing soil. With less time and effort, you can install different raft foundations for your building. Contact Piled Raft Foundation for professional advice and solutions to construct a strong raft foundation.